All things aside, I do feel for Wales losing a grand slam in the 82nd minute. Makes me think of Ireland losing to NZ in the last seconds.
Rugby Union 21/22/23 Discussion | RWC time!
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I'm just a little wary of the way this being put across. If officials see it and don't red card it because a home player did it, that's effectively a corruption problem.
Not sure exactly what O'Gara meant, it was a somewhat off the cuff remark that the rest of the panel didn't question.
It's not just the home team, it's just poor refereeing.
Ok, Pro 14 has poor reffing too. Not the sort of thing players get away with usually though. Do they even get cited afterwards?
I think Wales were on the front foot at the point the French player got a yellow. They had just scored a try that was disallowed and had been doing well throughout the match against their defence. I think Wales made a mistake going for the penalty and not the scrum when they were a man up there. It was their defence that was struggling against the French attack, so it would have been better to keep it up their end of the pitch.
The referee was brilliant today and kept the game flowing. You could argue some decisions like potentially a penalty try to Wales etc. but there is a point you just have to enjoy the match. It was a great game with fast movement and edge of the knife moments. Rees-Zammit almost had a fantastic finish and the French were very close multiple times. I love games where the attacks are on top.
An eye-gouge, deliberate or not, is a definite red card. There is no argument to be had there; the evidence was clear as day.
The referee was brilliant today and kept the game flowing. You could argue some decisions like potentially a penalty try to Wales etc. but there is a point you just have to enjoy the match. It was a great game with fast movement and edge of the knife moments. Rees-Zammit almost had a fantastic finish and the French were very close multiple times. I love games where the attacks are on top.
An eye-gouge, deliberate or not, is a definite red card. There is no argument to be had there; the evidence was clear as day.
That's generally how they are sanctioned.
That's important context I think. Your almost think from O'Gara's statement that they were just getting away with it, even though it was an off the cuff moment.
The French red card was a red card no doubt, but if we're going to go down this line of the TMO's having so much influence, they are going to have to change how we play advantage.
Wales committed close to double digits of penalties in a 5 minute spell up until conceding a try. Then the try is chalked off for a piece of foul play that happened 10 seconds before the touchdown. That can't be the way the game moves forward - where cynical play is rewarded like that. Bend and break he rules until your opponent gets so frustrated that he lashes out, then benefit from playing against an extra man.
Wales committed close to double digits of penalties in a 5 minute spell up until conceding a try. Then the try is chalked off for a piece of foul play that happened 10 seconds before the touchdown. That can't be the way the game moves forward - where cynical play is rewarded like that. Bend and break he rules until your opponent gets so frustrated that he lashes out, then benefit from playing against an extra man.
Amazing game. Nobody saw this from Wales before the tournament and there was a genuine fear was that they were heading back to the doldrums so credit to Pivac.
World Rugby have a few work-ons for sure.
This, caterpillar rucks, five seconds to use it, croc rolls... More important to act on these than the experiments with touchline dropouts.
Definitely. They started so badly but got better with each match.
But Wales should have had a penalty try. The only reason they didn't get the try is that the French player illegally brought the maul down. You could go on all day with who deserved what. There were other instances where both sides could have been punished, but I think the referee made the right call and let the game flow.
I think the VAR was perfectly used here. The discussion and explanations were clear as to the reasoning for decisions. You can make the game way too finicky. If it was reffed like you wanted, it could end up being a boring game. In the end, I think part of the referee's job is to actually help the game be as entertaining as it can. I think he did a very good job with this. I'd prefer a few questionable decisions and a great game than one that questions every single moment of a game.
Also, there is no excuse for eye-gouging, accidental or not, so I'm not buying this.
It can't be overstated, Rees-Zammit is a great prospect and I love the fact that Wales replaced North that quickly. Wales being competitive is great for rugby.
I agree that there should've been a penalty try for the maul infringement before Zammit's incredible effort. That doesn't change my point about all the Wales infringements in the last 15 minutes, and it doesn't even things out when Wales were also awarded a try that looked held up, under circumstances that weren't afforded to several French efforts over the line.
I agree with you that contact with the eyes is inexcusable.
He's absolutely class.
He was like a Silverback who's just beaten off a few challengers!
Agree. No intent whatsoever. When I played that wouldn't even be a pen.
I haven't seen the Ireland vs England match yet but I can't help but think Eddie Jones has reached his sell by date as coach of England. He felt he should have walked away as Wallabies coach after the 2003 WC final. He was sacked by the then ARU in 2005. WIll history repeat?
It's sad to say but 10 of the 15 games in this year's tournament have been enjoyable. Yet again though, games involving Italy really aren't worth watching. It's one thing for the Azzuri to suffer 32 straight losses but equally alarming is the paltry number of losing bonus points they've picked since they last won a 6Nations match. Just what the solution is, well, I don't know.
Wales may well end up ruing the way last night's match ended but they could end up regretting not securing a 4 try bonus point against Ireland when the men in red had aman advantage for about an hour on the opening weekend of the championship.
Just want to say congratulations to @JPRouve - not neceassarily for France winning last night and maybe winning the 6Nations next Friday but the Waikato Chiefs breaking a 12 game losing streak by beating the Hurricanes 35-29 in Wellington yesterday.
It's sad to say but 10 of the 15 games in this year's tournament have been enjoyable. Yet again though, games involving Italy really aren't worth watching. It's one thing for the Azzuri to suffer 32 straight losses but equally alarming is the paltry number of losing bonus points they've picked since they last won a 6Nations match. Just what the solution is, well, I don't know.
Wales may well end up ruing the way last night's match ended but they could end up regretting not securing a 4 try bonus point against Ireland when the men in red had aman advantage for about an hour on the opening weekend of the championship.
Just want to say congratulations to @JPRouve - not neceassarily for France winning last night and maybe winning the 6Nations next Friday but the Waikato Chiefs breaking a 12 game losing streak by beating the Hurricanes 35-29 in Wellington yesterday.
He dragged him back with his fingers hooked into his eye socket. How is that not a red? If it wasn't before then it was wrong then.
His hand slips down then hooks in. Now I have seen it again, I think there may have been intent, also.
Italy just don't have the league or finances to compete. They are also at risk of losing any promising player to nationalisation if they move to one of the bigger leagues.
I actually think they play good rugby at times but they are so sloppy. They rush things way too much and they do way too many knockons. Also they lack fitness. Will be a difficult job but I would like to see a proven coach give it a go.
Probably time for England to move on. They seem too predictable to me. I also think they need to freshen things up player wise.
They're talking about Ireland red against England
A lot of the rugby pundits I follow on Twitter seem to think that a really good Italy team is just around the corner based on their underage success.
I'm skeptical though. They were somewhat competitive in the match yesterday til a stupid yellow card, then you just knew they were going to get steamrolled. That happens way too often and it'll be such a hard thing to overcome, whether it's down to coaching, discipline, or lack of belief.
I don't think they'll be removed or replaced in the 6N, but I think they could really do with being in a secondary competition a level down as well. Even a short tournament with the likes of Georgia, Japan maybe, other nations just below the top tier.
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I was referring to the Bundee Aki tackle on Vunipola.
Galthie throwing in an extra dig after the ball has gone dead 
What has he got to gain by saying stuff like this? I see some folks saying it might sound worse in translation, but it seems pretty inflammatory after they've won the day in the end.
What has he got to gain by saying stuff like this? I see some folks saying it might sound worse in translation, but it seems pretty inflammatory after they've won the day in the end.
Galthie throwing in an extra dig after the ball has gone dead
What has he got to gain by saying stuff like this? I see some folks saying it might sound worse in translation, but it seems pretty inflammatory after they've won the day in the end.
He was asked about Willemse and whether he was worried about a lengthy ban. He answered that it wasn't on purpose and that the welsh player reaction was exaggerated in order to provoke a red.
Does it sound this way in the original? Saying a team "specialise" in getting their opponents sent off is usually the kind of statement coaches keep wellllllll away from.
He didn't talk about the team, the tweets put it in plural when he only talked about one player and one incident.
Thanks!
What a win for Bristol
Just tuned in to the second half. That was fun.
Whatever about Barnsie's influence on Pearcsie at the weekend, the TMO has just talked the ref out of a red card for a straight elbow to the chin in the Connacht Scarlets match tonight. Absolutely shocking stuff.
Missed that, just tuned in. Your boys are on fire!
Ah, it's great craic. Seven tries in the first half. The tackling is woeful, but it's great fun
Tonight, courtesy of the TMO, this is a medium-force failed handoff to the chest. Seriously.
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Yeah my best mate in rugby is a scarlets fan and says he was fearing the worst. I’m not gonna barrack him after this weekend though....plus he might bring up England’s performance
Yeah my best mate in rugby is a scarlets fan and says he was fearing the worst. I’m not gonna barrack him after this weekend though....plus he might bring up England’s performance
Connacht's defence hasn't been great by any means, but Scarlets' has been embarrassing.
I see what you mean by crap defending
Yup
Probably another seven tries on the way this half. It's by no means over.Whenever I’ve seen your winger Wooton he’s looked really good (only a few times mind). Was he in contention for a call up?Yup
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